ByFloSin
Well-known member
Rebel had a further 3 month check at the vet's yesterday. He is much improved since starting the Frusemide. Again he insisted on walking the 2 miles or so each way between the surgery and home. When examined the vet commented that he is much more relaxed than when she last saw him and I was able to tell her that he is no longer screaming and has lost his photophobia.
She checked his heart again carefully, which remains an asymptomatic grade 2.
I was really pleased when she remarked on his hard muscular condition. Thank goodness for someone who realised that toy dogs need as much exercise as all the others.
We then got on to my one concern. Rebel started scratching his middle, not air scratching but making contact with his hair and skin, some months ago and it has been getting gradually more persistent. On the walks yesterday he made his usual pit stops to mark street furniture and trees every minute on average. Each time he scratched his flank. Inside the house it is neither connected either with walking or passing urine, so these two connections are discounted.
He has had skin inspections plus a scraping examined under the microscope, with nothing found. He has been checked for parasites, without result.
What I would welcome advice about is whether the scratching is to relieve pain or perhaps it is just some kind of fettish or perhaps an allergy now comes to mind. He definitely shows no signs of the air scratching which is so typical in SM.
Apart from the scratching and the need for Frusemide he is a happy and active 8 1/2 years old Cavalier.
Can anyone tell me whether he definitely needs treatment for the scratching? If so, with what?
She checked his heart again carefully, which remains an asymptomatic grade 2.
I was really pleased when she remarked on his hard muscular condition. Thank goodness for someone who realised that toy dogs need as much exercise as all the others.
We then got on to my one concern. Rebel started scratching his middle, not air scratching but making contact with his hair and skin, some months ago and it has been getting gradually more persistent. On the walks yesterday he made his usual pit stops to mark street furniture and trees every minute on average. Each time he scratched his flank. Inside the house it is neither connected either with walking or passing urine, so these two connections are discounted.
He has had skin inspections plus a scraping examined under the microscope, with nothing found. He has been checked for parasites, without result.
What I would welcome advice about is whether the scratching is to relieve pain or perhaps it is just some kind of fettish or perhaps an allergy now comes to mind. He definitely shows no signs of the air scratching which is so typical in SM.
Apart from the scratching and the need for Frusemide he is a happy and active 8 1/2 years old Cavalier.
Can anyone tell me whether he definitely needs treatment for the scratching? If so, with what?